Friday 5: 5 Completely Original Musicals I Love!

5 Completely Original Musicals I Love!

(21st Century Edition)

With the announcement of the new musical Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), a completely original show, it got me to thinking about other such properties that weren't already novels, short stories, movies, or music catalogs, etc. Here are 5 of my favorites that I've enjoyed over the recent years!

Urinetown (2001): The recent Encores! revival of this very unique piece rekindled my adoration for it. So absurd a premise, I had to see this one back in 2001. Turns out that writers Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis, choreographer John Carrafa and director John Rando knew exactly how to make a biting satire AND a send up of Broadway musicals into an exciting night of theater.

  

Next to Normal (2009): This musical made me truly feel electric from its opening notes to its emotional, inspiring finale. That Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey were able to make a musical about a variety of mental illnesses and their varied treatments, along with profound grief is truly an achievement. I have so many wonderful memories of this production, but what stands out for me is the absolutely fat-free book and brilliantly tight direction by Michael Greif. And, of course, the truly superb cast - and their replacements... I can't wait for a revival!

The Prom (2018): A rite of passage, Broadway flare, and important queer themes combined to make this adorable and riotously funny show a sentimental favorite. Witty and splashy, this tuneful comedy was full of toe-tappers, hummable tunes and production numbers, The Prom was aptly described as "musical comedy heaven!" A principal cast of personal favorites (I'm looking at you, Beth, Brooks, Christopher and Angie) and an exiting youthful ensemble were all icing on this fabulous cake!

Shucked (2023): I'm not particularly fond of corn, and I'm even less fond of old-fashioned style country music. So imagine my utter shock at how much I loved this show! I love a show that is smart and clever without overdoing it, and this little musical had me smiling from ear to ear (pun intended) and cheering for each song! Not since Hairspray, has director Jack O'Brien shown such a knack for musical comedy, and with such golden material by book writer Robert Horn and a delicious score by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, he had it made. Of course, when thinking about the many delights of this production, I'd be remiss not to mention the ground-breaking performance of Tony-winner Alex Newell. Brilliance all around!  

Maybe Happy Ending (2024): Who knew that a sci-fi musical about robots could be so utterly charming, genuinely sweet, and deeply affecting? And yet writers Will Aronson and Hue Park, along with director Michael Arden and a brilliant design team did just that. Romance, adventure, a sense of humor and an instantly hum-able score plus an amazing company of actors are the perfect combination for musical theater bliss!

Will Two Strangers join this list of original wonders? I hope so!!

Friday 5: 5 Favorite One Act Musical Flops

5 Favorite One Act Musical Flops

5. Glory Days (2008 - 1 performance) Yes, I actually saw this show - prior to Broadway - and I really enjoyed it. The performances were solid, including that of Andrew C. Call, who I have enjoyed in several shows before and since Glory Days. Maybe it's a guy thing, but an impromptu high school reunion of old buddies hit me in all my feels.

4. 13 (2008 - 105 performances) Several of these youngsters have gone on to big things, so that alone makes having seen this one a thrill. Graham Phillips has grown up on several TV shows I've enjoyed, and has certainly come into his own on stage recently, including a current run in Little Shop of Horrors with 13 cast mate Elizabeth Gillies. Al Calderon  is currently on Days of Our Lives, Eamon Foley is making his mark as a director and choreographer, and Allie Trimm has a sustained Broadway career, including stints as Glinda in Wicked. But who knew I'd be maybe 20 feet from someone who is now one of the most famous people in the world, Ariana Grande? Oh, and the show was charming.

3. Swept Away (2024 - 48 performances) Dark and stormy, literally and figuratively, this show is one I'm so glad I got to see. It's a shame that the current Broadway economic climate allows so little wiggle room for gaining an audience. Still, it was an emotional and mental exercise definitely worth my time. Plus, a chance to see John Gallagher, Jr. and Stark Sands at the peak of their abilities was one not to be missed. 

2. The Story of My Life (2009 - 5 performances) I've often written about my love for this little, charming and devastating two-hander. There wasn't a dry eye in the house, and it remains one of my most cherished theater memories. "The Butterfly" is one of the best songs in all of the 21st century. It was so good, they made a book out of it!

1. The Scottsboro Boys (2010 - 49 performances) I could make a strong argument that this show (like so many of the Kander and Ebb oeuvre) was way ahead of its time, and history will show this to be one of the - if not the - greatest musicals of the first quarter of the century. Headed by Colman Domingo, John Cullum and Joshua Henry, the cast was flawless. The material was uncomfortable, but the show was energized and entertaining. In that way, it reminded me of Cabaret, Chicago and The Visit (another ahead of its time shows).

I am so grateful that I had the chance to see each of these. Each one expanded my view of what musicals could be. And I don't think it's the last we've seen of any of them, either. 

"Hit Songs" From Broadway Misfires: Character Revelations

They say characters in a musical sing when plain spoken words aren't enough. Emotions come out in a number of ways in musicals, to be sure. But one of my favorite things about such songs are when they lead to a character revelation: when Tony realizes he's in love with "Maria" in West Side Story, when A Chorus Line's Diana recognizes a painful truth about herself in "Nothing," or when Javert realizes in Les Miserables that he simply cannot live in a world where everything he believes in has turned against him in "Stars." Powerful, relatable moments in classic shows.

"Hit Songs" from Broadway Misfires:

Character Revelations

Such epic feelings are not reserved just for the cream of the crop musical, though. No, even a single performance running show can contain emotional highlights. The three shows below ran a combined total of just 154 performances, with one accounting for 148 of those. Long-running or not, each of these shows and their characters are worthy of consideration.

"Backwoods Barbie" from 9 to 5: The Musical

Music and Lyrics by Dolly Parton

Sung by Doralee Rhodes (Megan Hilty)

Favorite lyrics:

Now, I grew up poor and ragged, just a simple country girl
I wanted to be pretty more than anything in the world
Like Barbie or the models in the Frederick's catalog
From rags to riches in my dreams, I could have it all

I'm just a backwoods Barbie
Too much make-up, too much hair

Don't be fooled by thinkin' that the goods are not all there
Don't let these false eyelashes lead you to believe
That I'm as shallow as I look cause I run true and deep

I'm just a backwoods Barbie
In a push-up bra and heels

I might look artificial but where it counts I'm real
Yes I can see how I could be misjudged upon first glance
But even backwoods Barbies deserve a second chance
All dolled up and hoping for a chance to prove my worth
Cause even backwoods Barbies get their feelings hurt

Why This Should Be a "Hit Song":

The awkward phrasing and loose rhyming are perfectly attuned to the character here. Eventually, Doralee can't handle the hurt feelings she has when her co-workers gossip about her and exclude her. And who hasn't felt the pain and embarrassment of being judged based on such superficiality as how they look or how they talk? You don't have to be a woman to relate to this. And it sure is cathartic to sing along with Megan!

"Open Road" from Glory Days

Music and Lyrics by Nick Blaemire

Sung by Jack (Jesse J.P. Johnson)

Favorite lyrics:

When I was driving through the East
And my windows rolled down low
There was so much air that I could hardly breathe

I taught myself the land
From the Blue Ridge to Poconos
I became an expert on how the traffic flowed
I loved my life alone on the Open Road

But then I met this kid
Who wanted to go cross country like I did
But wouldn't hitch cause he had too much pride
So I offered him a ride

We learned about each other's lives
As we talked all through the night
And when he thought the time was right
He kissed me in the car
Beneath the starless sky
And with that kiss
He opened up my mind
And we went driving
We were driving

We were driving

Just me
A beautiful boy
And the Open Road

Why This Should Be a "Hit Song":

Maybe this one hits close to home because the twist at the end of this song is that this young man is coming out to his best buddies, taking a real chance in doing so. Sure, there are lots of coming out songs in the Broadway canon, but this one has a certain authenticity - simple words, a cascade of details as he approaches the big moment - it just rings true in a musical about 23 year-olds written by 23 year-olds. With a different arrangement, this song could be on the radio!

"The Butterfly" from The Story of My Life

Music and Lyrics by Neil Bartram

Sung by Thomas Weaver (Will Chase)

Favorite lyrics:

So the butterfly, he dreamed of the ocean.
He longed to flutter high above the seas,
But there are dangers in the sky
For a tiny butterfly.

So from his branch
He asked a question of the breeze.
"What makes you chase the river
T’ward the ocean?’"

Then the breeze told him a most amazing thing.
‘I’m simply made up of the currents in the air
That start from the movement of your wing,
Your tiny wing.’

‘You’re a butterfly my friend,
Powerful and strong
And i'm grateful for the way
You’ve always hurried me along.
When you flap your wings to stretch yourself
It might seem small to you
But you change the world
With everything you do.’

So he stretched his wings
And took off from the safety of his tree

And the butterfly finally saw the sea.

Why This Should Be a "Hit Song":

It is a beautifully written metaphor/story song, probably too good for the Billboard charts. It is simultaneously thought-provoking, uplifting and heartbreaking. And how many songs from a Broadway show that ran for just 5 performances have been turned into a children's picture book? Maybe "The Butterfly" is already a "hit" song! 

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The Friday 5: 5 Shows I'm Surprised I Did See

A couple of weeks ago, The Friday 5 was about 5 shows I'm surprised I've never seen. This week I thought I'd list 5 shows I'm surprised I actually did see! Maybe they were short running shows or maybe they were shows that aren't something I'd usually see. Maybe they were both. Either way, it's a surprise to me that I was in the audience!

(Answers to last week's Friday 5 Quiz are at the bottom of this article!)

The Friday 5:

5 Shows I'm Surprised I Saw

Chronicle of a Death Foretold

1. Chronicle of a Death Foretold (1995): The shocker of this show is that it ran for almost exactly 2 months in the middle of the summer, including previews. And in that brief period, I saw it THREE times. I almost didn't see it at all. I didn't care for the novel it is based on when I read it in college. But it was fascinating from start to finish. And because I saw it, I could say I saw every Best Musical nominee that season! Bonus: It was my introduction to Michael John LaChiusa and my first time seeing Tonya Pinkins.

High Fidelity

2. High Fidelity (2006): I was lucky I got to see this show.  I really liked it a lot; the score and set were excellent. And I loved the cast. Mostly, though, I was lucky because I got to see it at all. With 18 previews and 14 performances total, my opportunities were few! Bonus: It started my love affair with Will Chase, Jenn Colella and Tom Kitt!

In My Life

3. In My Life (2005): The show only made it through 61 performances, but I had to see it. Why? Because it was lone of the first shows I heard about through chat rooms.  I had to see just how bad it was. I mean, dancing with skeletons!? Well, it wasn't so bad as much as it was a messy vanity project. Bonus: The show put Christopher J. Hanke and David Turner on my radar, and it gave Jonathan Groff his Broadway debut!

Leap of Faith

4. Leap of Faith (2012): As with all of these shows, it's a miracle that I saw it all, given the short amount of time it was actually around (25 previews, 19 performances). But I'm glad I did. I am a huge Raul Esparza fan and had to see it. Bonus: I got to see some of my favorite new Broadway talent, including Ann Sanders, Jessica Phillips and a pre-Hamilton Leslie Odom, Jr.. 

The Story of My Life

5. The Story of My Life (2009): Because I loved him in High Fidelity, I made sure to get a ticket to this show with Will Chase, and I'm a fan of Malcolm Getz, too. No brainer, right? Well this one is probably my favorite "get." Not only did I love it, but I saw one of its five performances! FIVE! Bonus: The only thing better would be the ability to say I saw a show that opened and closed on the same night!

*****     *****     *****     *****     *****     *****

Answers to last week's Friday 5 Quiz!

Broadway Jeopardy!

$200: What is Les Miserables?

$400: What is Moulin Rouge!?

$600: What is South Pacific?

$800: What is Slave Play?

$1000: What is Grand Hotel: The Musical?

Final Jeopardy: What is Pacific Overtures? 

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Short Broadway Run? Saw It Anyway!

I'm sure we can all agree that we all have favorite shows that ran for far too short a time. And we probably all have seen shows that we can't believe ran at all. Over the years, I've seen plenty of short running flops. I got to see the notorious Glory Days before it came to Broadway. The same with Grind and Teddy and Alice. And I've seen plenty of shows on Broadway that were financial flops, many of those ran under 100 performances (I'll bet you have, too!).

Here are the 20 Broadway shows that I got to see with the shortest runs in descending order of number of official performances. Together, they have run a collective 574 performances, an average of 28.7 performances. One of them was a limited run; four were revivals; three I actually saw more than once; two I saw on Broadway and in pre-Broadway runs. Only five of them I hated completely.

Tuck Everlasting

• Smile (saw pre-Broadway, too) - Lunt-Fontanne Theatre - 11 previews, 48 performances - Featured Jodi Benson, Veanne Cox, Jeff McCarthy
• Patti LuPone On Broadway (limited engagement) - Walter Kerr Theatre - 8 previews, 45 performances - Featured Patti LuPone
• Mame (revival) - Gershwin Theatre - 7 previews, 41 performances - Featured Angela Lansbury, Anne Francine, Jane Connell
• Tuck Everlasting - Broadhurst Theatre - 28 previews, 39 performances - Featured Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Carolee Carmello, Michael Park, Terrence Mann

Wonderland

• Chronicle of a Death Foretold (saw it 3 times!) - Plymouth Theatre - 28 previews, 37 performances - Featured Tonya Pinkins
• Bonnie and Clyde - Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre - 33 previews, 36 performances - Featured Laura Osnes, Jeremy Jordan, Claybourne Elder
• Wonderland (hated it) - Marquis Theatre - 30 previews, 33 performances - Featured Janet Dacal, Karen Mason, Kate Shindle
• Shenandoah (revival) - Virginia Theatre - 15 previews, 32 performances - Featured John Cullum, Thomas Cavanaugh

The Times They Are A-Changin'

• Lysistrata Jones (saw off-Broadway, too) - Walter Kerr - 34 previews, 30 performances - Featured Patti Murin, Josh Segarra, Jason Tam, Alex Wyse, Barrett Wilbert Weed
• Jekyll and Hyde (revival, hated it) - Marquis Theatre - 15 previews, 30 performances - Featured Constantine Maroulis, Deborah Cox, Teal Wicks
• Scandalous: The Life and Trials of Aimee Semple McPherson (hated it) - Neil Simon Theatre - 31 previews, 29 performances - Featured Carolee Carmello, George Hearn, Candy Buckley, Andrew Samonsky
• The Times They Are A-Changin' - Brooks Atkinson Theatre - 35 previews, 28 performances - Featured Michael Arden, Lisa Brescia, Thom Sesma, John Selya

Dr. Zhivago

• Hands on a Hardbody (saw it twice!) - Brooks Atkinson Theatre - 28 previews, 28 performances - Featured Keith Carradine, Hunter Foster, Keala Settle, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Allison Case, Jon Rua
• Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (hated it) - Lyceum Theatre - 16 previews, 24 performances
• Doctor Zhivago (hated it) - Broadway Theatre - 26 previews, 23 performances - featured Tam Mutu, Kelli Barrett, Paul Alexander Nolan, Tom Hewitt
• Leap of Faith - St. James Theatre - 25 previews, 19 performances - Raul Esparza, Kendra Kassebaum, Leslie Odom, Jr., Jessica Phillips

The Story of My Life

• Getting Away With Murder - Broadhurst Theatre - 31 previews, 17 performances - Featured Christine Ebersole, Terrence Mann, John Rubinstein, Chuck Cooper, Nancy Opel
• The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public - Lunt-Fontanne Theatre - 28 previews, 16 performances - Featured Dee Hoty, Scott Holmes, Casey Nicholaw
• High Fidelity - Imperial Theatre - 18 previews, 14 performances - Featured Will Chase, Jenn Colella, Andrew C. Call
• The Story of My Life - Booth Theatre - 19 previews, 5 performances - Featured Will Chase, Malcolm Getz

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